Revealed: MPs who have never said a word in the 12th Parliament

Despite drawing millions of shillings in salary and allowances, 10 MPs have never spoken on the floor of Parliament, according to Hansard reports.

In a new report that focuses on the period between September 2017 and December 2018, 45 MPs made less than 10 contributions in the plenary despite each one of them having drawn at least Sh16 million in salaries and allowances over that period. Some of the MPs are seldom seen in Parliament, so much that orderlies often harass them, mistaking them for strangers.

Five Woman Representatives have also never uttered a word on the floor of the House. These are Anab Mohamed (Garissa), Lilian Tomitom (West Pokot), Irene Kasalu (Kitui), Jane Wanjuki (Embu) and Jane Chebaibai (Elgeyo Marakwet).

“Some of these silent MPs in the House are the most vocal politicians outside,” Caroline Gaita, the Executive Director for Mzalendo Trust, told the Sunday Nation. Mzalendo Trust, which operates the website www.mzalendo.com, is a parliamentary monitoring organisation that has been releasing a scorecard highlighting the performance of MPs since 2014.

According to the organisation’s first scorecard for the 12th Parliament, “ten Members of the National Assembly did not speak at all by December 2018, 96 spoke less than 20 times while three spoke less than 20 times in the Senate. Of the 47 women representatives, 15 also spoke less than 20 times while five did not speak at all.”

Best performing MPs

The report also analysed the MPs who contributed most in parliament. The best performers were Kimani Ichung’wa (Kikuyu), Joseph Limo (Kipkelion East), Robert Pukose (Endebess), David Gikaria (Nakuru Town East), Chrisantus Wamalwa (Kiminini), James Nyikal (Seme) and TJ Kajwang’ of Ruaraka.

Despite being nominated to serve various special interest groups, a number of the nominated legislators have done little to push for their agenda.

The nominated MPs who have made meagre contributions are Nasri Sahal, who was nominated by Ford Kenya to represent marginalised communities and has only spoken twice in the plenary, Jubilee’s Halima Yussuf who was nominated to represent workers and Jubilee’s Gideon Keter, who has only spoken 16 times in the House. Mr Keter was nominated to serve youth interests.

In the Senate, nominated senators who have performed underwhelmingly in making contributions are Victor Prengei, Falhada Dekow and Christine Zawadi, all from Jubilee Party. Ms Zawadi is said to have caused a stir in the Senate when she rose to contribute to a motion this month.

“David Sankok, Jacqueline Oduol and Godfrey Osotsi top the list of the most active nominated MPs at the National Assembly, with Abshiro Halake, Mary Yiane Seneta and Gertrude Musuve Inama leading at the Senate,” the report says.

Best performing MPs per county

An analysis of the data according to counties shows that representatives from Embu, Lamu, Nyamira, Isiolo and Bomet cumulatively spoke the least while on the other hand, MPs from Trans Nzoia, Nairobi, Kisumu and Kakamega counties topped the list of the most active in parliamentary sessions.

Other senators who get higher chances to contribute because of their positions include those who sit in the Speaker’s panel namely Rose Nyamunga, Kithure Kindiki, Judy Pareno and Steve Lelegwe.

However, some of those in various House leadership positions have helped to articulate a variety of issues that go beyond the duties that they hold.

Top Senate contributors

In the Senate, top contributors include Mutula Kilonzo Junior, Ms Kwamboka and Mr Kang’ata.

Mr Kang’ata, a consummate contributor in the House, must be smiling after the passing of the Ward Equitable Development Bill, which will see Members of County Assemblies receive budgetary allocations to initiate development projects.

Mr Kilonzo has come up with various bills including the county boundaries bill and a bill on disaster and risk management, co-sponsored with Senator Sakaja. Ms Kwamboka supported the motion on the role of school administration on teen pregnancies and establishment of a rehabilitation fund for street families.

In the national assembly, some of the most vocal House leaders include Ms Mbarire, Mr Mbadi and Junet Mohamed.

National Assembly Majority Leader Aden Duale said the trend was shameful: “It is so sad that some MPs have never made attempts to speak in the House. They should know that they were elected or nominated to represent their constituents and push for their interests in parliament.”